High school students buzz with smarts at UMass Brain Bee

WORCESTER – Some of the brightest high school students in the state converged at UMass Medical School Saturday for the 10th annual Central Massachusetts Regional Brain Bee. The international program created in 1999 by the Society for Neuroscience inspires high school students to learn about the brain and to pursue careers in neuroscience. “I think it’s a terrific program. The kids obviously are stars,” said Dr. Sheldon Benjamin, professor of psychiatry and neurology at UMass Medical School, who was the emcee for the competition. “I think this program helps students who might have a science interest in high school get really excited about things related to the brain and neuroscience. When kids get excited during high school it leads them to doing great things.” Sixty-five students from 24 high schools…